For years, members of the Walker River Paiute Tribe have had to test their drinking water due to potential contamination from a nearby mining site. Between the dual threats of pollutants and regional drought, the Tribe’s existing water infrastructure has been stretched to its limits.
![Photo shows a headshot of Amber Torres wearing a red blazer and colorful jewelry]()
Amber Torres is pictured in May 2022. (Photo credit: Exceed Photography)
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Amber Torres has seen Native communities such as the Walker River Paiute Tribe weather unique challenges, both in terms of public health and economic development. Now, as the chair of Walker River, Amber is overseeing her community’s implementation of the Biden administration’s federal economic investments such as the American Rescue Plan and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. These investments have helped Walker River to develop a new public park and wellness center, in addition to providing funding for a new water infrastructure system. With this federal funding, the Walker River Paiute Tribe is recovering from the pandemic and building a stronger economy.
Indian Country has always been treated as an afterthought, but we’ve really been at the table during this administration. The programs that have passed in the last few years have given us the funding for historic programs that will provide countless benefits to the people of the Walker River Paiute Tribe and our surrounding communities. The funding we’ve received for new water infrastructure, in particular, is a huge game changer for us and will allow us to build more homes and businesses on our land.
Amber Torres
Read more on how laws passed under Biden have helped Americans
This collection features stories from Americans across the country whose lives and communities have benefited from the legislative and executive actions passed under the Biden administration.
Read more on how laws passed under Biden have helped Americans
This collection features stories from Americans across the country whose lives and communities have benefited from the legislative and executive actions passed under the Biden administration.